Great Yorkshire Show: Sellout days, new classes and a Royal visit set to make 164th show a huge hit

Visitor numbers are capped at 35,000 each day and with tickets only available in advance there will be a last minute scramble for people to snap up any remaining tickets.

Wednesday has always traditionally been the busiest day and Thursday’s crowd is likely due to the popularity of the Cock O The North, one of the most prestigious showjumping events in the country which regularly attracts some of the biggest names in the showjumping world.

Allister Nixon, CEO of Yorkshire Agricultural Society, which organises the Great Yorkshire Show said: “We are absolutely delighted with the support from our visitors. We have seen unprecedented demand for tickets, selling out Wednesday already and our membership sold out in April. It shows the depth of support and love for the Show and we can’t wait to welcome visitors.”

The Cock O The North will be held on Thursday in the Main Ring at 3:45pm when some of the best showjumpers in the UK will compete.Olympic medallist Graham Fletcher who is part of the show’s showjumping committee has won the accolade four times on four different horses while his sons have also regularly competed. The famous showjumping Whitaker family are also regular competitors with Robert Whitaker the most recent winner in 2021. Most recent winner was James Wilson on Imagine De Muze.

Expect the best of British livestock when Beef Shorthorn, Charolais and Longhorn Cattle Societies all host their national competitions.

The Show will feature several thousand sheep, all vying for the top title, with two more breeds, the Badger Face Texel and Castlemilk Moorit, making their stand-alone breed debuts this year.

There’s been a record number of sheep entries this year, with a waiting list since April and additional pens drafted in to accommodate numbers which have reached 3,525. Last year had beaten previous records with 3,045.

New in the equine rings, are classes for Traditional Cobs and Connemara ponies, while the new showjumping classes which debuted last year in the Top Spec White Rose ring, are back and again have had waiting lists.

The Great Yorkshire Show Pole Climbing Championship is back this year after two new 100ft Douglas Fir poles were kindly supplied by Dawnay and a new look fashion show “Sheep to Chic” will be on every day.

Sheepdogs are back, last year they were so popular that an area has been created for them near to Gold Gate where there will be displays throughout each day of the show.

The Great Yorkshire Show will also welcome HRH The Duke of Gloucester on Tuesday in what will be his first visit to the show. The Duke of Gloucester, who is a first cousin to Queen Elizabeth II, will be taken on a tour of the Show with the Show Director Charles Mill and HM Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire Mrs Jo Ropner.

Show Director Charles Mills said: “We are delighted to welcome The Duke of Gloucester to the Great Yorkshire Show for the first time and look forward to showing him some of the highlights including horses, cattle and the latest in farming technology.”

Also on Tuesday will be some of the industry’s top level leaders with MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee attending.